At a Glance
- Tasks: Support our charity shop, manage volunteers, and ensure excellent customer service.
- Company: Join Woodgreen, a charity dedicated to helping pets and their owners.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, employee discounts, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for additional shifts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference for pets while gaining valuable retail experience.
- Qualifications: Supervisory experience in customer service and a passion for sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 13.45 - 13.45 £ per hour.
Would you like to support Woodgreen in achieving its goal of helping people and their pets? Do you enjoy working in a busy fast-paced environment to maximise sales through high standards of customer service? Joining Woodgreen on a 6-month fixed-term contract to cover a period of maternity leave, you will be part of our dynamic Retail team helping to raise funds to enable our organisation to support every pet to have a home where they are loved, well cared for and enjoy positive relationships with their owners.
This is an exciting time to join our organisation. As Assistant Shop Manager at our Newport Pagnell Charity Shop, you will work as part of our shop management team as they continue to strive for excellence. Our community-supported shop regularly takes part in Newport Pagnell's local events and even organises their own to raise funds for pets and their people.
Taking full responsibility in the Shop Manager's absence, alongside your own designated tasks you will:
- Maintain continual high standards of shop presentation, back of house operations and customer service.
- Present and maintain the highest standards of shop and window merchandising and visual layout.
- Recruit, train, motivate, manage and support the creation and development of a loyal and engaged team of volunteers.
- Ensure maximum stock availability through the processing of donations received in the shop.
- Be responsible for compliance, record keeping and cash handling.
- Be a brand ambassador for Woodgreen to work with the local community to raise awareness and engagement for our cause.
If you have:
- Supervisory experience in a customer-facing role
- A commercial and adaptable outlook to new ideas
- A passion for sustainability
- A compassionate approach to developing your team
- An ambitious and enthusiastic attitude
- A results-driven focus to ensure the right outcome for your shop
- Adaptability in changing situations and the ability to work effectively independently
We would love to hear from you! This opportunity has a working pattern of 10.5 hours a week, working all day Sunday and on a Wednesday morning. The salary for this position is £7,343.70 pro rata per annum (equivalent to £13.45 per hour). It is important to note that as Woodgreen Charity Shops are open 7 days a week, there may be the opportunity, from time to time, to provide cover to support holiday or absences for your Shop Management team or area should you wish to do so.
This competitive salary will be complemented by:
- Pro rata equivalent of 36 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) rising by 1 day each year to a maximum of 40 days pro rata after five years
- Up to 8% employer pension contributions
- Support towards healthcare costs (cash plan)
- Employee wellbeing package to include free access to Headspace
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Enhanced parental leave (subject to qualifying period)
- Benefits hub – exclusive discounts on popular brands
- 25% discount in our charity shops
Due to the nature of this role, there will be an element of manual handling and physical activity involved. You may also be required to work alone from time to time. For this reason, we are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18.
Please note that this role is subject to a range of pre-employment checks to include a DBS check. You will also need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this opportunity as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
Woodgreen is committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and, as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
Early application is encouraged as this position may close sooner than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date.
Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Assistant Shop Manager - Newport Pagnell (6 Month FTC) employer: Wood Green
Woodgreen is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and supportive work culture, dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of pets and their owners. As part of our Newport Pagnell team, you will enjoy competitive benefits including generous annual leave, pension contributions, and employee wellbeing support, all while working in a dynamic environment that values community engagement and personal growth. Join us in our mission to create loving homes for pets, and be part of an organisation that truly cares about its employees and the communities we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Shop Manager - Newport Pagnell (6 Month FTC)
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Shop Manager - Newport Pagnell (6 Month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to Wood Green:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Wood Green! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Wood Green
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that Wood Green offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at Wood Green and contribute positively during your temporary stint.